Illustration Phases

Character Development

Sometimes Character sketches are submitted prior to the Storyboard Phase if there is not a clear understanding of the genre or style.

Phase 1: STORYBOARDS

• Essential to any production or product pitch, storyboards are a simple way to add a visual dimension to your narrative.
• The storyboard process for a Children’s Book illustrator is a basic layout of all the illustrations.
• It is a brainstorming tool for the illustrator to create a framework with which to work with the author.
• It is a great tool to figure out if the author and illustrator are on the same page about the vision and the narrative.
• The first step of the storyboard is generally done as a series of quick sketches.
• From these sketches the author should get an idea of the composition for each drawing, the setting and focal point of each scene.

Some Examples of Storyboard Fine-Tuning:

• The majority of editing will occur at this point.
• Sometimes the entire style has to be changed to meet the author’s vision.
• The reason that the first sketches are so unfinished is to allow for major changes and do-overs.
• The closer the author and the illustrator are to seeing the story the same way, the more defined the sketches will be. It is not uncommon for the storyboard to take a few times to fine-tune.
• When the storyboard sketches are clear enough to understand the direction the drawings are moving in, we are ready for the Line Art Phase.

Phase 2: LINE ART

The line drawings are clean, detailed drawings that include all elements of the illustrations.

Phase 3: COLOR/PRINT-READY

Once the line drawings have been approved, the next phase is to color the illustrations.  The line drawings should be considered final; the only changes should be to the color. This is the final phase of the illustration process.

Proofs:

Low resolution proofs for each phase will be submitted as one PDF containing all illustrations cropped down to trim size at 72 DPI), delivered digitally, via email.

Final Files:

Final illustrations will be submitted as either .jpg or .tif files at requested trim size plus bleed, at 300 dpi. These are to be packaged in a compressed .zip folder and are print ready.

Payment

• Payment should be made in three equal installments (via paypal or check).
• I ask that you make the first payment if you are happy with the character sketches, prior to termination of the storyboard (Phase #2).
• The second payment should be made upon satisfactory completion of the black and white line drawings (Phase #3).
• The final payment should be made upon satisfactory completion of the color illustrations (Phase #4). Upon receipt of payment, the final files will be sent and the service will be considered fulfilled with confirmation of receipt.